How private browsing works

When you browse privately, other people who use the device won't see your activity.

Chrome doesn't save your browsing history or information entered in forms. Cookies and site data are remembered while you're browsing, but deleted when you exit Incognito mode.

Your activity might still be visible

Incognito mode stops Chrome from saving your browsing activity.

Your activity might still be visible to:

Websites you visit, including the ads and resources used on those sites

Your employer, school, or whoever runs the network you’re using

Your internet service provider

If you sign in to an account to use a web service, like Gmail, your browsing activity might be saved on sites that recognize that account.

Downloads and bookmarks are saved

Chrome won’t remember the files you download while browsing in private. But, they're still saved to your Downloads folder, even after you exit Incognito. You and anyone who uses your device can see and open the files.

All bookmarks you create are saved to Chrome.

You can switch between Incognito tabs and regular Chrome tabs. You'll only browse in private when you're using an Incognito tab.

Stop private browsing

Incognito mode runs in a separate tab from your normal Chrome tabs.

If you have an Incognito tab open and you open another one, your private browsing session will continue in the new tab. To exit Incognito mode, close all Incognito tabs.

On your Android phone or tablet, open the Chrome app .

At the top right, tap Switch tabs . On the right, you'll see your open Incognito tabs.